Patrick Henry
Position: Anti-Federalist
Representative of Virginia
Background
Patrick Henry had tried and failed at a few careers before he became qualified as a lawyer in 1760 and established a firm. In his beginnings as a lawyer, he gained fame for his very radical "Parson's Cause" speech, in 1763. This speech made Henry an idol among many Virginians and it expanded his practice greatly. This also led to him being elected a member of the Virginia Legislature two years later and writing the rebellious "Virginia Resolutions". Henry sat in the House of Burgesses until 1775 and was a key person for the radicals and the opposition to the British government. In addition, Henry was a member of he first Virginia committee of correspondence, a delegate to the Continental Congress, and during the second revolutionary convention presented resolutions for arming the Virginia militia.
Constitutional Convention:
As a multiple-term governor and leading member of Virginia's House of Delegates, Henry was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Although, Henry refused to attend because he "smelt a rat in Philadelphia, tending toward the monarchy." Henry opposed the Constitution. He thought that it endangered the rights of the States and the freedoms of individuals. He also thought that the untested office of the presidency could devolve into a monarchy.
Virginia Ratifying Convention
During the convention, Henry stuck with his fellow Anti-Federalists and opposed the ratifying of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists held the belief that the Constitution created a far too powerful central government. In addition, Henry strongly opposed letting the central government tax citizens and he was afraid that the President of the United States would gain too much power.
Arguments
As an Anti-Federalist, Patrick Henry was strongly opposed to the views of Federalists, such as James Madison, and the ratification of the Constitution. Henry used the lack of Bill of Rights, "a list of fundamental freedoms retained by the people that the government could not infringe", in the Constitution as a large arguing point. Many people used this as evidence that "such a government could threaten people's liberties". Henry argued that the Constitution gave to too much power to the federal government. This argument led to having the Bill of Rights adopted into the new Constitution to protect individual rights.
Bibliography
Debates and other proceedings of the Convention of Virginia convened at Richmond, on Monday the 2d day of June, 1788, for the purpose of deliberating on the Constitution recommended by the Grand Federal Convention. ; To which is prefixed, the Federal Cons. Petersburg [Va.: Printed by Hunter and Prentis., 17881789. Print.
Position: Anti-Federalist
Representative of Virginia
Background
Patrick Henry had tried and failed at a few careers before he became qualified as a lawyer in 1760 and established a firm. In his beginnings as a lawyer, he gained fame for his very radical "Parson's Cause" speech, in 1763. This speech made Henry an idol among many Virginians and it expanded his practice greatly. This also led to him being elected a member of the Virginia Legislature two years later and writing the rebellious "Virginia Resolutions". Henry sat in the House of Burgesses until 1775 and was a key person for the radicals and the opposition to the British government. In addition, Henry was a member of he first Virginia committee of correspondence, a delegate to the Continental Congress, and during the second revolutionary convention presented resolutions for arming the Virginia militia.
Constitutional Convention:
As a multiple-term governor and leading member of Virginia's House of Delegates, Henry was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Although, Henry refused to attend because he "smelt a rat in Philadelphia, tending toward the monarchy." Henry opposed the Constitution. He thought that it endangered the rights of the States and the freedoms of individuals. He also thought that the untested office of the presidency could devolve into a monarchy.
Virginia Ratifying Convention
During the convention, Henry stuck with his fellow Anti-Federalists and opposed the ratifying of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists held the belief that the Constitution created a far too powerful central government. In addition, Henry strongly opposed letting the central government tax citizens and he was afraid that the President of the United States would gain too much power.
Arguments
As an Anti-Federalist, Patrick Henry was strongly opposed to the views of Federalists, such as James Madison, and the ratification of the Constitution. Henry used the lack of Bill of Rights, "a list of fundamental freedoms retained by the people that the government could not infringe", in the Constitution as a large arguing point. Many people used this as evidence that "such a government could threaten people's liberties". Henry argued that the Constitution gave to too much power to the federal government. This argument led to having the Bill of Rights adopted into the new Constitution to protect individual rights.
Bibliography
Debates and other proceedings of the Convention of Virginia convened at Richmond, on Monday the 2d day of June, 1788, for the purpose of deliberating on the Constitution recommended by the Grand Federal Convention. ; To which is prefixed, the Federal Cons. Petersburg [Va.: Printed by Hunter and Prentis., 17881789. Print.
"Patrick Henry." NNDB. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. <www.nndb.com/people/916/000027835/>.
rd. "Patrick Henry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Hen
"Virginia Ratifying Convention - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia."Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Ratifying_Convention>.